Trump to Kim Jong Un: 'You could have the best hotels in the world' if you give up nukes

Trump to Kim: 'You could have the best hotels' if you nix nukes

Author:
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY

Published:
3:50 AM PDT June 12, 2018

Updated:
7:27 AM PDT June 13, 2018

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un looks at his document at a signing ceremony with President Trump.

SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty Images

When in doubt, stick with what you know. For President Donald Trump, that means real estate.

In a session Tuesday with journalists in Singapore when he was asked about North Korea's human rights record and what Pyongyang could look like if it denuclearizes, Trump touted the economic benefits of building infrastructure in North Korea.

"Kim Jong Un is saying he wants a brighter future with prosperity for his people," an American journalist began at the news conference after Trump's meeting with Kim. "We know they lived under oppression. You showed the video of what the future could be like. Do you have an idea specifically of the model that he would like to go toward?"

Trump replied that it was a "good question" and then referred to the video the reporter mentioned. It was presented to Kim and his delegation during the summit and showed a story of two possible outcomes to the U.S. and North Korea's dialogue, "one of moving back, and one of moving forward." The video implied that Kim needed to "shake the hand of peace" if he wanted to stand any chance of taking his country out of "isolation."

"You saw the tape today," Trump said. "I think it was done really well. That was done at the highest level of future development. I told him, you may not want this. You may want to do a smaller version of this. I mean, you got to do something. You may want to do a smaller version. You may not want trains and everything. Super-everything."

Then the real estate tycoon warmed to his theme.

"As an example, they have great beaches," Trump said. "You see that whenever they are exploding their cannons into the ocean. I said, boy, look at that view, wouldn't that make a great condo? And I explained it. I said, instead of doing that, you could have the best hotels in the world. Think of it from the real estate prospective. You have South Korea, you have China, and they own the land in the middle. How bad is that, right? It's great. ... (Kim) looked at that tape. He looked at that iPad. I’m telling you, they really enjoyed it, I believe. OK?"

The motorcade carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, drives past on the street in Singapore on June 10, 2018. The North Korean leader met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ahead of a historic summit with President Donald Trump on June 12.

Erica Boland, right, a U.S. student based in Singapore and a supporter of President Trump, and her friend wave a flag as they wait for his arrival, outside the Shangrila hotel in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

A handout photo taken by Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore on June 10, 2018 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arriving at Singapore International airport in Singapore.

President Donald Trump waves upon his arrival to his hotel in Singapore on June 10, 2018, ahead of a planned meeting with North Korea's leader.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong talk during their meeting at the Istana Presidential Palace in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

People look at President Donald Trump's arrival at the airport on TV screens in the International Media Center for the DPRK-US Singapore Summit in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

Singapore military personnel patrol in front of the gate of the Istana Presidential Palace, where North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will meet in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

Members of the public and media wait outside the entrance to the Shangri-La Hotel for the arrival of President Donald Trump on June 10, 2018 in Singapore.

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The motorcade carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, drives past on the street in Singapore on June 10, 2018. The North Korean leader met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ahead of a historic summit with President Donald Trump on June 12.

02/08

Erica Boland, right, a U.S. student based in Singapore and a supporter of President Trump, and her friend wave a flag as they wait for his arrival, outside the Shangrila hotel in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

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A handout photo taken by Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore on June 10, 2018 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arriving at Singapore International airport in Singapore.

04/08

President Donald Trump waves upon his arrival to his hotel in Singapore on June 10, 2018, ahead of a planned meeting with North Korea's leader.

05/08

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong talk during their meeting at the Istana Presidential Palace in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

06/08

People look at President Donald Trump's arrival at the airport on TV screens in the International Media Center for the DPRK-US Singapore Summit in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

07/08

Singapore military personnel patrol in front of the gate of the Istana Presidential Palace, where North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will meet in Singapore on June 10, 2018.

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Members of the public and media wait outside the entrance to the Shangri-La Hotel for the arrival of President Donald Trump on June 10, 2018 in Singapore.